I VERY much support Quiet Scotland’s campaign to keep loud music out of shops ("Sssssssh... turn the volume down, you're violating our human rights", The Herald, February 11).

Loud music should also be kept out of restaurants and pubs. The concept of "a quiet drink" or "a quiet meal" out has all but disappeared, and there is a blind acceptance by many people that the deployment of muzak as a marketing tool to make us eat, drink and buy more is just the way it is. It need not be.

When John Connell founded the Noise Abatement Society in 1959, he observed that "noise is the forgotten pollutant in our society". It is good that Quiet Scotland is reasserting the right to some peace and quiet and not have our public spaces infested with mind-numbing muzak.

George Winter,

Kilrubie,

Old Edinburgh Road, Eddleston, Peeblesshire.